Former 400m hurdles Olympic Champion Sally enjoyed a phenomenally successful career. She held nearly every title there was to win including Olympic Gold, World Championship titles, World Cups, European Championships and four consecutive European Cup victories, not to mention five Commonwealth titles. Sally Gunnell is undoubtedly one of the best female athletes to have ever been produced by this country.
However, life as an athlete didn't start out in the hurdles for Sally as she started with the pentathlon and long jump. Success as a hurdler eventually began at the shorter distance and in 1986, she won gold at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games. Finally finding her niche at the longer distance, Sally began her dominance winning the 400m hurdles at the 1990 Commonwealth Games title in Auckland.
In the years that followed, Sally won everything there was to win in the discipline; the only woman to hold World, Olympic, European and Commonwealth titles at the same time, Sally's popularity with the British public reached new levels. Dominating her event for almost 10 years, her crowning glory came at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when she won gold in the 400m hurdles in the most emphatic style, blowing away her nearest challenger in the last 100m. A bronze in the 4 x 400m flat team event that followed was an extra bonus for Sally who is an expert in getting the most out of team situations. Gunnell later set the World Record in 1993 for 400m hurdles, still a British record time.
Retiring in 1997 through persistent injuries, Gunnell turned her attentions to media commitments and her role as an Olympic speaker, a BBC presenter and an ambassador for UK Sport. In 1997, she appeared on the This is Your Life programme, the recipient of the "big red book".
Since leaving BBC in 2006, Gunnell has focused more of her attentions on after-dinner speaking become a favourite on the circuit. Her experiences at the top of her sport have set her in good stead as a guest speaker. An exceptional role model to athletes, especially women, Sally Gunnell is a talented and eloquent speaker with the ability to captivate the audience, delivering an unrivalled service throughout her appearances at any event, occasion or conference.
These days, Sally's energies are focused on promoting health and wellbeing for people in the UK. Her work helping companies bring health and wellbeing to the workplace confirms her reputation as a major influencer in business and at the highest of levels. Exceptionally gifted as an Olympic speaker, Sally Gunnell continues to be phenomenally popular at all types of events, capturing the imagination and attention of the audience flawlessly throughout.
Watch our exclusive interview with Sally Gunnel to see the athletics icon in action!
Most recently, Sally Gunnell was inducted into the Top Speakers to Book for International Women's Day, commending her outstanding achievements in her athletic performances.
